Association of a lymphotoxin-alpha gene polymorphism and atopic asthma in Taiwanese children.
BACKGROUND
The lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) gene is located on chromosome 6 (6p21.1-6p21.3) and it may regulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. TNF is a potent cytokine in the airway inflammatory response. Polymorphisms of TNF-associated genes have been related to asthma. This study investigated an LT-alpha-Ncol polymorphism in the first intron of the LT-alpha gene (LT-alpha-Ncol*1 allele, as a variant type; and LT-alpha-Ncol*2 allele), which may predispose individuals to asthma and atopy.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction-based assays were performed to determine LT-alpha-Ncol genotypes among our subjects. A genetic case control analysis was then performed on 114 atopic asthmatic and 155 non-asthmatic unrelated children.


RESULTS
There was a statistically higher frequency of LT-alpha-Ncol*1 allele carriers (1/1+1/2) in the subjects with atopic asthma than in controls (OR=1.923; 95% CI = 1.061-3.484; p = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that LT-alpha-Ncol*1 may be a risk factor for atopic asthma in Taiwanese children.
Huang
Szu-Chao
SC
Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Wu
Wen-Jun
WJ
Sun
Hai-Lun
HL
Lue
Ko-Huang
KH
Hsu
Chia-Hsiu
CH
Liao
Pei-Fen
PF
Ku
Min-Sho
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha